The Laramie Project came about as a result of a the murder of a gay student in Laramie, Wyoming. Matthew Shepard was robbed, tied to a fence, beaten, and left vulnerable to the elements..... he was found by a biker the next day and died seven days...

I think Western society a whole is more sensitive to crimes around sexual orientation. Although most people were horrified at what happened to Matthew in 1998, there is more awareness of issues relating to hate crimes like this today.